(CBS/AP)When CBS News issued its updated standards recently, one of the new additions was a rule forbidding CBS News employees from contributing money to political campaigns. As Linda Mason, Senior Vice President for Standard and Special Projects at CBS News, told Public Eye then, "we want our reporters to be absolutely pure when they interview candidates of either side or issues that relate to either side. . Today, with the instant reporting of political contributions, it has become obvious who gives and to whom, and this we felt would compromise the people who were doing reporting involved with political issues." The desire to maintain journalistic impartiality is understandable, though it"s a troubling rule in some respects. If you believe political contributions are tantamount to speech, such a ban could be an infringement of one"s rights. Then again, contributions are a form of activism and even when it comes to free speech, most news organizations would not allow its employees to speak at political rallies or campaign on behalf of candidates. So a rule banning political contributions is not all that surprising. More controversial is whether or not journalists should even be exercising their right to vote. That debate is being revived today, with two journalists weighing in on opposite sides of the question.
|
|
Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza in this morning's Washington Post: President Bush last night accused Sen. John F. Kerry of disparaging U.S. troops in Iraq..... After reading Kerry's comments to a GOP audience in Georgia, Bush said Kerry's statement was...
|
|
Democratic challenger Jon Tester on John Kerry: Senator Kerry's remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid. He owes out troops and their families an apology. Is this what Jon Tester wants to be talking about six days from election...
|
|
When the Baltimore Sun runs a headline six days before the election that says "Governor Race a Toss Up" you know things are not looking good at O'Malley headquarters. Maryland's Republican Governor and The Sun have been feuding virulently since...
|
|
From Rasmussen Reports: In the final full month before Election 2006, the number of people identifying themselves as Republicans has fallen to its lowest level since we began reporting this measure of partisan trends in January 2004. As a result,...
|
|
After my initial post on John Kerry yesterday I received a few emails from left-leaners who said that it was quite clear to them Kerry was trying to make a joke about President Bush. I watched the video twice and...
|
|
A huge dump of money by the two congressional campaign committees yesterday. I've tabulated the spending side-by-side and shaded the districts where both groups committed funds to give a better idea of what's being spent where. Remember, however, these are...
|
This is priceless:...
|
|
Is amniocentesis safe?
|
|
Democrats hold a 52-34 percent lead over Republicans one week before the midterm elections, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll. Women and independents heavily favor the Democrats, while Iraq remains the campaign's top issue.
|
|
From his web site: As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any...
|
|
Lincoln Chafee is fighting for his political life in Rhode Island. Here is his latest ad: And here is the latest ad from his opponent, Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse:...
|
|
Too many GOP candidates and spokesmen are playing into the Democrats' hands by virtually conceding the Iraq issue -- an issue upon which the Democrats are extremely vulnerable themselves, if challenged.
|
|
Anti-social behaviour amongst British teenagers is the worst in Europe, a study has suggested. Do you agree?
|
|
When it comes to running for high office, there's no shortage of people who are willing to use misleading and blatantly untrue campaign ads, says Dick Meyer. This year's bumper crop of sleazy political commercials stopped to a new low.
|
|
Let students blog Arnold Wile - Naples, Fla. As a retired guidance counselor with more than 35 years of experience in a high school in New England, and as a lifetime advocate for student rights and freedom of expression, I...
|
|
Service a worthy idea William Abbott, Associate Professor of History, Fairfield University - Fairfield, Conn. Kudos to Hodding Carter and Ronald Goldfarb for proposing mandatory national service for 18-year-olds. Such a program would be useful for students of all backgrounds,...
|
Parkinson's too terrible to limit research options Orville B. Iverson - Woodside, Calif. I found the comments made by conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh about the political ad featuring Michael J. Fox hard to believe (Limbaugh says actor Fox exaggerating...
|
|
When it comes to auto safety, it's time to hit the brakes By John Merline Imagine 119 people dropping dead each day from eating salmonella-infected produce. Or seven fully loaded 747s crashing every month. Imagine a school bus load of...
|
Life, liberty and property rights Six state initiatives in the West aim to ride the wave of public sentiment against government seizures of private property. Sounds like a winner? Well, better read the fine print. By Mary Zeiss Stange They...
|
Last gasps in Iraq I supported this war, but the deteriorating situation is starting to convince me that we can’t win. Those of us who hoped that the Iraqis could achieve democracy were wrong — and their failure has implications...
|
|
Opposing view: California can lead the way By Carl Pope Measure would promote alternative energy, help loosen Big Oil’s grip. Voters want change and leadership that will take America in a dramatically different direction. One way many candidates across the...
|
Our view on petroleum politics: No pain, no gain on energy Proposal to tax Calif. oil would undermine energy independence. An immutable rule of energy politics is that whenever fuel prices rise, lawmakers and interest groups respond with ideas of...
|
Kerry pries foot from mouth; sound-bite politics escalate John Kerry said something truly foolish on Monday, suggesting to college students that if they didn't get an education, they'd get stuck in Iraq. Taken at face value, it was demeaning and...
|
|
Republicans hope that will be one of MANY surprises on election night. They need them. With lots of struggling candidates, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is throwing a $900,000, buzzer-beating lifeline to the Wolverine State and Mike Bouchard, a sheriff...
|
|
|
